Cindy Hyde-Smith (R-MS)
Ecuador Shrimp Tariff Act
A Republican bill with no cosponsors
Last activity — Read twice and referred to the Committee on Finance.
In committee
Introduced and handed to a committee in the chamber it started in.
The committee holds it, and most bills are never heard from again. A hearing or a committee vote would be news; silence is the usual outcome, and it kills the bill without anyone voting against it.
Its path through Congress
- Introduced
- In Committee
What this bill would do
This bill is known as the Ecuador Shrimp Tariff Act. It is designed to increase the taxes or duties on shrimp that comes from Ecuador over a period of three years, starting in 2027. The bill also changes country of origin labeling rules so that certain cooked shrimp and crawfish are no longer considered processed food items. Additionally, it requires the President to put an extra duty on imported shrimp to pay for inspections of imported shrimp and catfish. Finally, these new duties are added on top of any other duties already required by law.
Yes· 3 of 4
- Scored +6
Would farmers be better off under this?
Domestic aquaculture and shrimp farmers benefit from increased tariff protections against foreign competition from Ecuador.
- Scored +5
Does this invest in rural communities?
The tariff protections on domestic shrimp support domestic producers and rural coastal fishing communities.
- Scored +3
Does this give people more protection from unfair business practices?
The bill provides additional funding for inspections of imported shrimp and catfish to enhance food safety.
The opposite
- Scored -4
Does this make trade with other countries easier?
The bill imposes significant new tariffs on shrimp imported from Ecuador, which may disrupt established trade patterns.
- Scored -2
Would households on low incomes be better off under this?
Tariffs on imported shrimp may increase the cost of seafood for consumers, negatively affecting low-income households.
- Scored -2
Would middle-income households be better off under this?
Higher duties on imported shrimp could raise grocery prices for middle-class consumers.
Who it would affect, and how
Potential Positive Impacts for People
- Section 5: This section requires the money collected from the additional duty on imported shrimp to be used for conducting inspections of shrimp and catfish imported into the United States. This could benefit people by increasing safety checks on imported seafood.
Potential Negative Impacts for People
- Section 3: This section phases in significant duty increases on shrimp originating from Ecuador, raising the general rate of duty to 10 percent in 2027, 20 percent in 2028, and 40 percent in 2029 and thereafter. This could negatively impact people by increasing the cost of shrimp for consumers and businesses.
Groups and Interests Ranking
Every group the model scored this bill for, from -10 to +10. Tap or hover a score for the reason it gave.
- Environment Energy And Infrastructure
- Does this invest in rural communities? — The tariff protections on domestic shrimp support domestic producers and rural coastal fishing communities.
- National Security And Foreign Policy
- Does this make trade with other countries easier? — The bill imposes significant new tariffs on shrimp imported from Ecuador, which may disrupt established trade patterns.
- Economy And Finance
- Does this give people more protection from unfair business practices? — The bill provides additional funding for inspections of imported shrimp and catfish to enhance food safety.
- Governance And Ideology
- Does this give the federal government more power? — The bill grants the President and federal agencies additional responsibilities regarding tariff enforcement and seafood inspections.
- Demographic And Interest Groups
- Would farmers be better off under this? — Domestic aquaculture and shrimp farmers benefit from increased tariff protections against foreign competition from Ecuador. Would households on low incomes be better off under this? — Tariffs on imported shrimp may increase the cost of seafood for consumers, negatively affecting low-income households. Would middle-income households be better off under this? — Higher duties on imported shrimp could raise grocery prices for middle-class consumers.
- 9/30/2026
- Read twice and referred to the Committee on Finance.
- Introduced in Senate